Destination Info: Kruger National Park

Episode 1. Of Bushveld, Beasts and Blondes

Our hosts explore the best-known game area in the world, the Greater Kruger National Park; Rough or Smooth style. Paul takes an overdressed Terence on an elephant riding trip, then they go leopard tracking on a game walk and cook hippopotamus ‘potjie” for dinner. But this traditional cooking method using a cast iron pot on an open fire gets a fire hazard free twist as Paul lets the hippo steak stew in a mixture of red wine, garlic, ginger, basil, onions, carrots and potatoes for 12 hours in an underground earth oven.

Terence gives the hippo dish a smooth makeover; carpaccio infused with balsamic vinegar, red wine, sweet port and goji and gooseberries. The things he’ll do to impress a ruggedly handsome game ranger at a safari picnic!

He is later whisked from the luxury of his five star lodge on a gin soaked game drive. The lion sighting may have been spectacular, but the night is ruined by Paul’s hyena impersonation as Terence is forced to camp in a tent. But it is nothing that champagne and a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the savannah won’t fix.

Episode Specific Credits:

Appearance by
Elani Theunissen
Laurence Saad

Special thanks to
Ezulwini Game Lodges 
The Saad Family
The Elephant Sanctuary, Hazyview
Sun Catchers Hot Air Ballooning
Elani Theunissen
Mariza de Kock